A 52-year-old taxi driver has died and a 24-year-old man has been arrested following a crash in Chislehurst this morning (June 5).

Police were called to Royal Parade with the junction of Bromley Road at around 3.30am to reports of a crash between a car and a taxi.

The taxi driver suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by doctors from London Air Ambulance.

His next-of-kin have been informed and a formal identification and a post-mortem is due to take place at a later date.

The driver of the car, a man aged 24, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.

He remains in custody at a south London police station.

London Ambulance Service (LAS) paramedics and London Fire Brigade crews were also on the scene.

A spokesman for the LAS said: "Sadly, the patient was pronounced dead at the scene by the doctor from London's Air Ambulance."

News Shopper:

Neighbour Mary Sudra, who lives on Church Row, said: "I think the traffic lights were out, someone was killed.

"There was a taxi, a big black car, which was on its side.

"The police taped the road off and put up a tent so it was obvious straight away someone had been killed. There were lots of policeman and bus drivers standing around.

"There were two cars that the police took away. There was blood on the road."

Mrs Sudra, 75, added: "It’s a bad junction, there have been other accidents.

"They’ve tried to improve the safety here before."

TOP STORIES:

News Shopper:

Mary Sudra

31-year-old Michael Lethbridge, owner of The Village Store on Royal Parade, said: “I was woken up about 3am by the crash. It was loud enough to wake me up.

"It was a black cab and a black Kia Cee’d I think.

"My girlfriend looked out the window but she just saw blue lights. 

"In the morning I saw a black cab on its side, I heard the traffic lights were out. Police cordoned off the whole cross roads." 

The junction, by the Prince Imperial memorial, was closed in all four directions but has since re-opened. 

Royal Parade and Centre Common Road were also closed both ways.

There were earlier delays both ways on Bromley Road and Bromley Lane and both ways between Prince Imperial Road and Kemnal Road.

Diversions were also in place on bus routes 61, 160, 161, 162, 269, 273, 638 and N136.

Detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit based at Catford are investigating.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 020 8285 1574 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Transport for London has been contacted for a comment. 

Would you like to leave a tribute? Call 01689 885734 or email: Rebecca.Flood@london.newquest.co.uk